Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like



Aug. 24, 1943; c. J. BURCH ET AL APPARATUS FOR WORKING MINERAL MATERIALSAND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 7,, 1940 Q H m m I: N u 1 v H m E MM ue m Q a Ng RR A0 wv HE CG q w m w a m ATTORNEY Patented Aug; 24, 1943 APPARATUSnon woaxmo MINERAL MATERIALS AND THE LIKE Charles J. Burch and George H.Smith, Kenmore,

N. Y., assignors to The Linde Air Products Company, a corporation ofOhio Application December 7, 1940, Serlal No. 369,002

11 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatusfor working mineral materials and thelike by methods wherein the debris produced during the working operationmust be removed promptly from the region of operation. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to apparatus for piercing, cutting,or grooving mineral materials and the like, for example, drilling orpiercing blast holes in rock, including a debris-removing device whichis so constructed and arranged with respect to the other parts of theapparatus that the utmost simplicity of construction and operation maybe obtained. Moreover, the invention also relates to a novel form ofdebris-removal device which is of particular value for conveying debrisfrom a region of operation, for example, for the removal of a mixture ofwater and finely-divided disintegrated slag particles from a blast holebeing thermally pierced in a mineral material, such as iron ore.

The present invention i closely related to that described and claimed inthe copending application, Serial No. 368,288, of Charles J. Burch,filed December 3, 1940.

Prior to the present invention, many different types of devices wereused for removing rock dust or other undesirable debris from arock-piercing, cutting, grooving or similar operation wherein ,the dustor other debris would present a hazard if permitted to exhaust totheatmosphere adjacent to thescene of operation. In many cases, suchdebris-removal devices comprised separate individual units which wereused in conjunction with the pneumatic drill, blowpipe, or othermineralworking instrumentality. Such separate units occupied a large amount ofvaluable space and required separate means for holding them, thus"complicating the set-up and alignment of the mineral working apparatus,and hindering the operation considerably. Furthermore, priordebris-removal devices were too slow in operation, and were apt to clogup with slag or other debris produced in mineral working operations ofthe type in which the debris passes to the exhausting system in adampened state, for example, as in the thermal method of operationdescribed fully in the aforementioned copending applica' tion.

The principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to providesuitable apparatus for overcoming the above-mentioned undesirablefeatures of prior apparatus. Another object is to provide apparatus forworking mineral materials and. the like which shall include as anintegral part of the apparatus a debris-removal device constructed andarranged to serve the double function of removing debris and supportingthe other parts of the apparatus. Still another object is to provide adebris-removal device which shall be efl'icient and rapid in its action,and which shall operate without clogging, even when exhausting dampdebris.

The above and other objects, and the novel features of the inventionwill become apparent from the following specification, having referenceto the annexed drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation, partly broken away and in section,showing the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The present invention will be described, by way of example only, sapplied to apparatus for thermally piercing holes in meltable mineralmaterials and the like by the method of meltin material to form a slag,quenching and solidifying the slag, mechanically disintegrating thesolidified slag, and removing the disintegrated slag and other debris,such as water, steam, and gases of combustion from the hole, all asdescribed in the aforementioned copending application.

The apparatus comprises, generally, a debris collection and transportingconduit D supporting a movable carriage C carrying a mineral workinginstrumentality B, such as the rock-piercing blowpipe described in theaforementioned copending application, which is thus wholly supported bythe conduit D. A suitable support independent of the mineral workinginstrumentality, such as a tripod T of well-known construction, in turnsupports the conduit D. Means wholly supported by the conduit D isprovided between the instrumentality B and the ccmduit D for moving theinstrumentality B over the conduit D.

The debris-removal conduit D itself comprises, briefly, a housing havinga front rim adapted to be positioned adjacent to a surface of a mass Mof the mineral material to be worked, and

- a main conduit portion leading from the housing.

Means is carried by the housing adjacent to the rim thereof for sprayingwater rearwardly away from the mass M and directly into the housing towash the interior walls and to provide an additional impelling force fordebris; and a water jet also is injected from a separate nozzle into themain conduit portion for the same purpose.

At its rear end, the conduit D is adapted to be connected to a hose,which in turn may be connected through intermediate debris-collectingdevices to an exhaust fan or similar suctionproducing device.

More specifically, the debris-removal conduit D comprises adebris-collecting housing ll, having an entrance provided with a frontrim l2, adapted to be positioned adjacent to the face of the mineralmaterial M to be worked, for example, at the mouth of a hole H beingpierced. A rearwardly projecting tube or annular flange l3, madeintegral with the housing II as by welding, forms a passage l4 throughwhich the mineral working instrumentality is operable. The flange 13carries on its rear end face a pair of separable arcuate closure andbearing members [5 and I6, lined on their inner surfaces withwear-resistant bearing material such as Haynes Stellite alloy which arehinged to the lower portion of the flange l3 by the bolts ll and I8, andlatched at the top by a bolt I9 and a pressure plate 20. The conduit Dalso comprises a downwardly and rearwardly inclined neck portion 2|connected at its upper end to the housing ll, an elbow 22 connected tothe bottom of the neck 2|, and a horizontal portion 23 leading from theelbow 22. Adjacent to its rear end, a down-turned elbow 24 is providedin the conduit D, beyond which the conduit again extends horizontally,as at 25, to its rear end to which a suction hose may be fitted. Weldedjoints preferably connect together the several portions of the conduitD.

A tubular water-injecting ring 26, which is bolted to the housing H onthe forward rim l2, is provided with a plurality of equi-spacedannularly-arranged water discharge orifices 2'I drilled through theinner side of the tubular ring in such away that water-jets will bedischarged inwardly of the housing II for promptly wetting debris andwashing it into the main conduit portion 23 and will thoroughly washdown the inside walls of the conduit D. A single water-spray nozzle 28is arranged substantially centrally in the conduit D intermediate theends thereof at the elbow 22 in such a way as-to discharge a widecone-shaped spray of water rearwardly into the horizontal portion 23 ofthe conduit D to impel the debris rearwardly, and to thoroughly wash.

down the walls of the conduit. Water is supplied to the nozzle 28through suitable pipe connections 29 extending through a port 30 in theelbow 22, around which is welded a flange 3|. A suitable closure 32,such as a drilled steel plate, is bolted to the outer face of theannular flange SI and fits snugly around th pipe connection 29. Water issupplied to both the nozzle 28 and the spray ring 26 throughawater-supply conduit 33.

The debris-removal conduit D is supported in position by means of thetripod T, carrying on its upper end an. adjustable sliding trunnion 34having a cone 35 pivoted about a vertical axis in a socket member 36 onthe tripod. A stationary clamp 37 and a movable clamp 38 on the trunnion34 are clamped to suitable longitudinally extending ways 39 welded tothe bottom of the horibontal conduit portion- 23. The conduit D may beadjusted longitudinally with respect to the tripod T simply by looseningthe clamp nut 40 of the trunnion 34, which in turn loosens the movableclamp 38, then sliding the'ways 39 through the clamps 3i and 38 to thedesired position, and thereafter tightening the clamp nut 4|]. Theconduit D may be adjusted to any desired angle by rotating the cone 35in the socket 36, and by properly adjusting the length and angulararrangement or the pivoted tripod legs 4|.

Two channel-shaped guiding and supporting tracks 42, which are welded tothe top of the horizontal conduit portion 24 and supported thereby withtheir generally U-shaped channels racing one another, extend along thefull length of the horizontal conduit portion 23 and overhang the elbow24 and the horizontal conduit portion 25 at the rear end of'the conduitD, thereby forming a bight 43.

A long teed screw 44 is journalled at its forward end within a frontbearing block 45 welded to the top of the conduit portion 23 between.the tracks 42, and at its rear end is journalled in a pillow block 46adjacent to the rear end of the tracks 42. The feed screw 44 may berotated manually by means of a suitable hand crank 41 secured to itsrear end; or it may be rotated automatically by means of a suitablemotor and gear mechanism (not shown) enclosed within a housmg 48supported by suitable brackets in the bight 43. A clutch 49 provides forselective operation of the feed screw 44 either manually orautomatically. Suitable speed control or the feed screw 44 may beobtained by regulating the rheostat control 50 at the forward end of thehousing 48.

The carriage C, which is mounted for travel over the debris-removalconduit D, comprises a housing 52 carrying two L-shapedlongitudinallyextending slides 53 fitting slidingly within the channelsof the tracks 42. A split travelling nut 54 is secured to the slideplates 53, as by welding, and engages the feed screw 44 so that thecarriage C may be driven over the conduit D when the feed screw isrotated. The travelling nut 54 may be disengaged from the feed screw 44by rotating the handwheels 55 to cause the two halves of the split nutto move away from one another and the feed screw, the carriage Cthereafter being movable by hand in either direction over the tracks 42to a properly adjusted position.

A blowpipe B, including a rotatable reamer sleeve 56 carryingslag-disintegrating reamer teeth 51 adjacent to its forward end, isgripped by the jaws 58 of a rotatable chuck 59 threaded over the rearend of a tubular shaft 60 near the top of the housing C. The blowpipe Balso comprises a non-rotatable heat-producing unit, including the tip GIand rear body 62, which is held against rotation by the weight of thesupply hoses W, O and A for water, oxygen, and acetylene, respectively,carried by the rear body 62. Other means, of course, may be used forholding the heat producing unit against rotation. A motor 83 on thecarriage C rotates the shaft 60 and chuck 59 through a suitablereduction gear and a sprocket and chain connection (not shown) so thatthe sleeve 56 and slag-breaking teeth 51 will rotate continuously as thecarriage C is advanced over the support by the feed screw 44.

If longitudinal adjustment of the blowpipe B relatively to the carriageC is desired, the chuck 59 maybe disengaged from the sleeve 56 by turnngthe bolts 64, which relax the pressure of the laws 58 on the reamersleeve. Complete removal of the blowpipe B from the apparatus also maybe obtained by withdrawing the jaws 58 through the rear end of the chuck59, and loosening the latch bolt I9 which permits the two arcuateclosure and bearing members l5 and IS on the flange I 3 to swing apart.The blowpipe then may be withdrawn rearwardly through the passage l4 ofthe housing II, the passage in the tubular 1 asa'agsor shaft 66, and thechuck 59, all of which are of suificient size to permit the passage ofthe projecting teeth 51 on the blowpipe. Insertion of the blowpipe, ofcourse, is accomplished in the reverse order.

The foregoing description of the invention is by way of example only,and it is evident that modifications and changes in construction may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising aconduit for conveying debris from a region of operation; track meanssecured to said conduit; and a carriage movable over said conduit alongsaid track means, said carriage being adapted to carry a mineral workinginstrumentality.

2. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the. like comprising aconduit for conveying debris from a region of operation; track meanssecured to and supported by said conduit; a carriage movable along saidtrack means, said carriage being adapted to carry a mineral workinginstrumentality; and means supported by said conduit for moving saidcarriage along said track means.

3; Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising aconduit for conveying debris from a region of operation; track meanssecured to and supported by said conduit; 9. carriage movable along saidtrack means, said carriage being adapted to carry a mineral workinginstrumentality; means supported by said conduit for moving saidcarriage along said track means; way means secured to said conduit; andmeans engaging said way means for supporting said conduit, said waymeans and said conduit supporting means being adjustable relatively toone another.

. 4. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising aconduit for conveying debris from a region of operation; and track meanssecured to and supported by said conduit adapted to support and guide acarriage.

5. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising aconduit for conveying debris from a region of operation; track meanssecured to and supported by said conduit adapted to support and guide acarriage; and way means secured to said conduit adapted to be engaged byconduit supporting means.

6. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising meansfor collecting and conveying debris from a region oi operation,including a housing having an entrance provided with a rim adapted to bepositioned adjacent to the surface of a mineral mass, and a conduitleading from said housing; means carried by said housing adjacent to therim thereof having pas sage means constructed and arranged fordiecharging a plurality of; liquid streams in a direc= erable throughsaid housing, said instrumentality being supported by and movable oversaid conduit.

'7. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprisingmeans for collecting and conveying debris from a region of operation,including a housing having an entrance provided with a rim adapted to bepositioned adjacent to the surface of a mineral mass, and a conduitleading from said housing; means adjacent to the rim of said housing fordischarging a plurality of liquid streams directly into said housing forpromptly wetting debrisand washing such debris from said housing intosaid conduit; means intermediate the ends of said conduit fordischarging liquid therein; and a mineral working instrumentalityoperable through said housing, said instrumentality being supported byand movable over said conduit.

8. Debris collection and conveying apparatus comprising a housing havingan entrance provided with a rim adapted to be positioned adjacent to thesurface of a mass of mineral or the like; a conduit leading from saidhousing; and means carried by said housing adjacent to the rim thereofhaving passage means constructed and arranged for discharging aplurality of liquid streams in a direction away from such a mass anddirectly into said housing for promptly wetting debris and washing suchdebris from said housing into said conduit.

9. Debris collection and conveying apparatus comprising a housing havingan entrance provided with a rim adapted to be positioned adjacent to thesurface of a mass of mineral or the like; a. conduit leading from saidhousing; means carried by aid housing adjacent to the rim thereof havingpassage means constructed and arranged fcr discharging a plurality ofliquid streams in a direction awayfrom such a mass and directly intosaid housing for promptly wetting debris and washing such debris fromsaid housing into said conduit; and means intermediate the ends of saidconduit for discharging liquid therein.

10. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising aconduit for conveying debris from a region of operation; track meanssecured to and supported by said conduit adapted to support and guide a.carriage; and means supported by said conduit for moving such a carriageover said conduit.

11. Debris collection and conveying apparatus comprising a, housinghaving an entrance provided with a rim adapted to be positioned adiacentto the surface of a mass of mineral or the like; a conduit leading fromsaid housing; and a spray ring carried by said housing on said rim, saidspray ring having a plurality of annularly arranged outlets disposed onthe inner side thereof for discharging liquid streams directly into saidhousing in a direction away from such a mass. 4

' GHARIES J. BURCH.

GEQRGE H. S.

